Night Rider.......High Trestle Bridge

Biker speeds by on the Madrid High Trestle Bridge - Summer Evening June 2011

Colors Blowing In the Wind

Kinetic Structures - Colorful and Fascinating.  Des Moines Art Festival June 2011.

Red Fox - Coat Color Variant

More Foxy Stories - 

As it turns out facial expressions are easier to capture on light colored animals, so the tendency is to come home with dozens of photos of light-colored critters.  But this strangely patterned fox kit had me mesmerized.  This is a Red Fox and it's siblings were 'red'; this fox is clearly a 'cross'.  We were told it's father was a silver/black fox.  This type of color variation does not usually occur in the wild;  when it does it is often in cold climates.

Let's hope some zealous hunter doesn't consider this colorful little fellow a trophy...

"A mutant "arctic marble" was born in a silver fox litter at Sverre
Ombers farm in Norway in 1945. When a red or silver fox gene is added
to a marble fox, the mix is calico patterns in red, brown, black and
gray."

Adult Red Fox from a different den.

Flat Tire Saga

The folks at Hell's A-Roarin' Ranch told our friends Scott and Dale where a secluded fox den was located off a dirt road high on a mountain above Gardiner, Montana.  They'd seen the parents and a group of baby fox playing in the area earlier that day.  They also offered information and directions on places where we were likely to find extraordinary wildlife in the early morning hours.  The plan was to be on the mountain top before sunrise with our cameras ready for action.  Indeed, we discovered wolf, bison, deer, pronghorn, elk, eagles, and even a 'grave yard' where bear had left the remains of their prey.  But, we were really interested in photographing the baby animals.  So, farther up the mountain we went past an old mining town and over a questionably stable bridge.  We actually made this trip up the mountain twice as we didn't find the fox den on our first excursion....it was during the second trip that I noticed a warning on the dashboard panel 'your right front tire is low - add air'.  Okay.  Sure, I'll look at it - when we get to the top of the mountain.  I knew it wasn't good when Linda got out and her first reaction was 'Oh, No!'   Yes - flat.

Hmmm.  How were we going to tell someone our location?  We didn't know our location. 

Fortunately, our cell phones worked, at least intermittently, and we were able to contact Scott and Dale who did know the location and were kind enough to change the tire.  And, guess what?  Just as they arrived so did the baby foxes!  Thanks! 

We owe these guys dinner.

Investigating the Options

Object of Our Attention

Lone Wolf

Dramatic Light at the End of the Day

Crazy On the Dance Floor

I wasn't sure if the folks in Montana were going to throw us out of the state or invite us back for all of their parties...it seems, Penny has assured us, that it is the later... :)

 I think I like dancing better than kayaking - and that's saying a lot.

A great time with great friends.

Time to start the dance song request list for Lydia's wedding next year...

Meadow Flowers

Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air. ~ Georges Bernanos

                       

Funny how all children seem to play the same way.....

American Bison

One advantage of curious friends is that we are always asking questions...did you know that this is not a 'Buffalo'?  We discovered, through extensive research (cell phone Google :), that this is a 'Bison'.  Often called the 'American Buffalo', but not a buffalo at all.

This fellow was enjoying some (very) early morning slumber when a group of ernest photographers accidently found him along the trail.  All was okay until he abruptly stood up...we kept our distance. Bison can be dangerous and should never be approached.  They attack more people in Yellowstone each year than any other animal.  A bull bison can stand six feet tall, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and run at speeds up to 30 miles an hour. 

Benini

Benini -
 Artist in the middle of nowhere.....

Hummingbird Don't Fly Away

'The draught of understanding; wisdom, peace and love is ours.'  - Seals and Crofts

 

Texas Hill Country Hummingbird

Longhorn

Yahoo

About to shed skin

Expert Balance

Man of Steel writes in Stone, at Red Rock.